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ABOVE: One section of a monumental trompe
l'oeil building mural by
Cité de la Creation in Lyon.
Lyon, France
Continued
from: Macon
The MS Maribelle departed Macon at 1 a.m., traversing several locks on its way to
Lyon (where the Saône merges with the Rhône,
France's most powerful river). The ship reached Lyon before breakfast and docked
next to the Pont de l'Université, directly across from the island between two
rivers that forms the heart of France's second-largest city.
Our morning was occupied by a city
tour of Lyon. We started with a visit to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere,
a grandiose 19th Century monument to the Virgin Mary that offers a spectacular
panoramic view of the city. Next came a walk through le Vieux Lyon ("Old
Lyon"), with enough free time for a visit to the Cathedral. The buses got
everyone back to the ship in time for lunch; the afternoon was free, although
Viking did lay on a shuttle bus for those who didn't feel like walking or taking
public transportation to the Place des Terraux at the far end of downtown.
We skipped the afternoon shuttle
and walked around the city, eventually taking the Métro to the transportation
complex around the Gare de Perrache railroad station. Later, after dinner, we
walked to a newer section of Lyon until it began raining, when we caught a tram back to the ship.
For
guests who felt like staying up late and paying extra, Viking offered an
optional night tour that involved a bus ride to various
illuminations around the city. (Since 1989, Lyon has had a "Public Lighting
Plan" with more than 150 buildings, plazas, and monuments being lit in creative
ways. If you're visiting Lyon independently, ask the tourist office or your
hotel concierge for a schedule of guided "Lyon, Ville Lumière" tours.)
To learn more about
Lyon, see:
Cruise
Photos: Lyon
europeforvisitors.com
These are from the 169 images in our MS Maribelle
Photo Gallery.
Lyon Convention
and Visitors Bureau
Next page:
Vienne
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